Soltesz, Carretta lead Franklin Regional to first ever Penguins Cup title Tuesday

CRANBERRY - Franklin Regional needed its goalie to be at his best in the most important game of the season and Dan Soltesz responded.

Soltesz, just a freshman, made 44 saves and Nicholas Carretta recorded a hat trick as the Panthers defeated South Fayette 4-1 to win their first ever Class A Penguins Cup Championship on Tuesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

After a scoreless first period, the Lions got the opening goal in the second as Spencer Barber found a rebound and beat Soltesz on the power play a little more than eight minutes into the period. South Fayette had a golden opportunity to add on to that lead during a five-minute power play after a Joseph Greico elbowing major. But Soltesz rose up to the challenge and kept the Lions off the board.

Despite being outshot 38-16 after two periods, Franklin Regional trailed just 1-0. The Panthers then went to work, tying the game at 1-1 on a goal by Carretta off of a shot by Olda Virag with 12:47 left in regulation.

Just two-and-a-half minutes later, Caretta struck again as he got through two defensemen to beat South Fayette goalie Kyle Sharp and make it 2-1.

The Lions picked up the pressure and looked as if they would get the tallying marker as they went to the power play. But Ethan Bennett's wrist shot hit goaltender Sharp, went up in the air and landed behind him in the cage to give Franklin Regional a 3-1.

Carretta notched the natural hat trick and put the game away with a goal with 34 seconds remaining.

Aside from Carretta's three goals, Virag notched two assists and Drake Brown also added a helper.

The Panthers advance to the Pennsylvania Cup Championship on Friday to face Flyer Cup champion Bayard Rustin at Pegula Ice Arena at Penn State. Faceoff is at Noon.